Water Damage
Water Damage Inspection & Moisture Mapping in Las Vegas, NV
A water damage inspection uses thermal imaging and moisture meters to find water intrusion that is not visible on the surface, under tile, inside walls, beneath flooring or under a concrete slab. In Las Vegas this matters because most homes sit on a slab, so a leak can move for a long time before it ever shows up as a stain.
Nevada Water Damage
What we do
Not every water problem starts with an obvious flood. Sometimes it is a slightly warm patch on the floor, a faint musty smell in one room, a water bill that crept up for no clear reason, or a stain that appeared once and never came back but never quite went away either. A water damage inspection is how we figure out whether there is an active or past leak, where it is, how far it traveled, and what, if anything, needs to happen next, before you commit to any repair.
We offer a free inspection and estimate, because we think you should know what you are dealing with before you decide anything. Using thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters, we check not just the spot you are worried about but the surrounding areas, walls, flooring and, when relevant, the slab, so nothing gets missed and nothing gets treated that does not actually need it.
Signs
Signs you need help
- A warm or cool patch on the flooring that feels different from the rest of the room
- A faint musty smell that comes and goes, especially near an exterior wall or bathroom
- A water bill that rose noticeably without a clear reason
- A stain that appeared once, dried out, and has not returned but never faded either
- Tile that sounds hollow in one spot when you tap it
- A slightly uneven or slowly settling area of flooring
- Concern before buying a home, or before closing on the sale of one
- Wanting a second opinion after another contractor flagged possible water damage
Right now
What to do first
- Write down what you have noticed, when it started and whether it has changed
- Check your water bill for the last couple of months for an unexplained increase
- Avoid opening walls or removing flooring yourself before the inspection
- Note the location relative to bathrooms, the kitchen, the water heater and exterior walls
- If you smell something musty, note which room it is strongest in
- Call us for a free inspection rather than guessing or waiting to see if it gets worse
Las Vegas
Why an inspection matters more in a slab-on-grade desert city
Most homes in the Las Vegas valley are built directly on a concrete slab, which means plumbing under the floor is not visible and not easy to check without the right equipment. A slab leak can run for weeks, sometimes longer, moving water sideways under the flooring before it ever surfaces as a stain, a lifted tile or a warm spot you can feel with bare feet, which is exactly the kind of damage a visual walk-through alone will miss.
Stucco exterior walls, common across the valley, can also hide water intrusion behind the surface for a while, since stucco does not show staining the way interior drywall does. Add valley water that the Las Vegas Valley Water District rates as very hard, and mineral scale can mask or slow an active drip just enough that it is not obvious until it has been running for some time.
Because Clark County's housing stock includes a large share of homes built before 2000, with a median year built of 1997 (U.S. Census ACS 2023), an inspection is also useful simply because older plumbing, water heaters and roofing are more likely to be near the end of their service life, and catching a slow failure early is far less disruptive than catching it after it has spread.
Process
How does moisture inspection work?
Done to IICRC standards, with documented moisture readings.
Walk-through and history
We start by asking what you have noticed, when, and where, since that history often narrows down where to look first, whether it is a smell, a stain, a utility bill change or a concern from a home inspection.
Thermal imaging scan
A thermal camera reads surface temperature differences that often indicate moisture behind walls, under flooring or in a ceiling, letting us scan a large area quickly before deciding where to take direct readings.
Moisture meter readings
We take direct moisture readings at the areas the thermal scan flags, and compare them to a normal, unaffected part of the home, so you get an actual number, not just a guess based on appearance.
Slab and subfloor check
Where a slab leak is suspected, we use specialized methods to help locate whether water is moving under the flooring, which is different from checking a wall or ceiling and requires different equipment and experience.
Category assessment, if water is found
If we do find active or recent water damage, we classify it under the IICRC categories, clean, grey or contaminated, so you understand not just where the water is but what it means for cleanup.
Written findings and free estimate
You get a clear explanation of what we found, what we did not find, and, if remediation is needed, a free estimate for the work, with no obligation to move forward with us.
Insurance
Does insurance cover moisture inspection?
An inspection report matters for insurance in two different ways: if we find active or recent damage, the documentation helps support a claim, especially proving the damage was sudden rather than a long-ignored gradual issue, which many policies treat differently. If we find nothing, or find an old, already-resolved issue, that report can also be useful, for a real estate transaction, a refinance, or simply your own peace of mind. Either way, if remediation ends up being needed, we bill most major insurance companies directly so the inspection is not a cost barrier to finding out what is going on.
Cost
What decides the cost of moisture inspection in Las Vegas?
- Whether the inspection finds active damage that requires immediate remediation
- How large an area needs to be scanned and how accessible it is
- Whether a suspected slab leak needs specialized location methods
- How many rooms or systems are involved, plumbing, roof, HVAC condensate
- Whether follow-up documentation is needed for a real estate transaction or insurance claim
- Whether any damage found requires drying, mold remediation or repair afterward
Every job is different. The inspection is free and we walk you through the scope before work starts.
Prevention
How to keep it from happening again
- Schedule an inspection before buying a home, especially one built before 2000
- Get an inspection if your water bill rises without an obvious explanation
- Do not ignore a musty smell just because you cannot see a stain
- Have your home checked after any major plumbing or roofing work is completed nearby
- Consider a periodic check of slab areas in older homes with a history of plumbing issues
- Address a small, confirmed issue quickly rather than waiting for it to become visible on its own
Questions
Straight answers
Is the water damage inspection really free even if you find nothing?
Yes, the inspection and estimate are free whether we find active damage or not. We would rather you know for certain than avoid checking because of cost.
Can you tell if there is a leak under my slab without cutting into the floor?
In many cases, yes, using thermal imaging and specialized methods we can narrow down the likely location of a slab leak without cutting first. If we cannot be certain without further investigation, we will tell you that honestly rather than guessing.
How long does a water damage inspection take?
Most residential inspections take under an hour, depending on the size of the home and how many areas need to be checked. Larger or more complex situations, like a suspected slab leak, may take a bit longer.
I'm buying a house, should I get my own inspection separate from the home inspector's?
A general home inspector checks many systems briefly, while our inspection uses thermal imaging and moisture meters specifically for water intrusion, so it can catch things a general inspection might miss, especially under tile or behind stucco.
What happens if you find a problem during the inspection?
We explain exactly what we found, where it is, and what it means, then give you a free estimate for any remediation needed. You are never obligated to move forward with us just because we did the inspection.
Can an inspection help with an insurance claim I'm already filing?
Yes, documentation from a professional inspection, including moisture readings and thermal images, can support a claim by showing the extent and likely timeline of the damage, which your adjuster will want to see.
Do you inspect for mold too, or just water?
Water and mold are closely connected, so if our inspection finds conditions that suggest mold, or visible mold, we will point that out and can follow up with dedicated mold testing and inspection as needed.
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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5-year · U.S. EPA · Las Vegas Valley Water District · IICRC S500 / S520 · National Weather Service Las Vegas
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